How to Understand a Poem
Making Poetry Easy and Fun
Before addressing any questions first read the poem once or twice. It is alright if you do not fully understand it. Try not to analysis when first reading it that's what the questions are for.
Here are some of the questions one should ask to fully understand a poem.
1. Who is the speaker? ( most assume it is the poet, but that is something you should not assume. )
2. Is it possible to determine the speakers age or sex? (This might help determine the person's frame of mind in the poem.
3. What is the setting of the story? ( This is usually easy to tell and can help achieve more then one might think when trying to determine the full picture)
4. What is the title trying to say? ( Does the title fit in with the poem and is well understood? Or does it seem to be not a part of the poem at all)
5. Is there a theme that is shown significantly within the poem? ( Sometime the theme is easily shown, sometimes it is a little less direct)
6. Are there any words repeated? Why do you think they are being repeated? ( This might help define the speakers feelings or meaning of a certain part of the poem.)
7. Do any of the objects, people, or places seem to have symbolic meaning? ( Not everything is always face value. The true meaning can be found in a symbol hidden in the words.)
8. What is the overall tone of the poem? ( Is this a happy, sad, ect. Poem?)
9. Does any biological information about the author help? ( Sometimes knowing a little about the author can help define that meaning of the poem.)
10. What reactions or feeling of your own does this poem reveal? ( This might have been the goal of the author and ones own feelings can show the meaning of the poem)
Even if only one or two of these questions can be easily answered that is alright. Anything to help better understand the poem, will help you enjoy poetry more.
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Amanda Ligi is a 27 years old. Her dream is to write a novel that will help others. View profile
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1 Comments
Post a Commenti do not understand the poem Legacies by Nikki Giovanni
it goes liket his:
her grandmother called her from the playground
"yes, ma'am" said the little girl
"I want chu to learn how to make rolls" said the old
woman proudly
but the little girl didn't want
to learn how becasue she knew
even if she couldn't sai it that
that would mean when the old one died she would be less
dependent on her spirit so
the little girl said
"i dont want to know how to make no rolls"
with her lips poked out
and the old woman wiped her hands on
her apron saying "lord
these children"
and neither of them ever
said what they meant
andi guess nobody ever does